Above & Beyond

Since signing four tracks onto Future Sounds of Egypt, Niko Zografos has been on a trance music rampage. The San Francisco DJ released his remix of Cold Blue’s “Gold Rush” on Mental Asylum Records earlier this year. Now a month later, trance fans are having their hearts melted to his rework of Above & Beyond’s 2004 hit “No One on Earth,” featuring Zoe Johnson. Aly & Fila first debut Zografos’ remix at Dreamstate in SoCal to an emotional crowd that felt as if the song was 13 years in the making.

Compared to the original, this rework picks up the pace and kicks the gears into overdrive. The track begins with a pounding bass drum and taping hi-hats before a series of lasers introduces the beautiful chords that make up the main melody. It’s not long before Johnson’s iconic vocals emerge to haunt the electronic synths. As the climax approaches, Johnson’s voice slows down the bassline, allowing the melody to shine through before the soft percussions rev up the tone and take us to the drop. Fans who remembered the original song 13 years ago, be warned for a sense of nostalgia as the musical magic arrives at its apex. The track leads us out with a perfect duality of sounds that is both uplifting and euphoric.

Zografos gives this trance classic the contemporary 138 feeling that is needed to blast this track into the modern dance scene. A few names such as Sean Tyas, Jordan Suckley, Heatbeat, Menno De Jong, Photographer, Daniel Skyvar, The Thrillseekers, Steve Allen and, of course, Aly & Fila have supported the remix. Many fans have complimented the SF DJ on social media of their love for his rendition of a classic that has been in their hearts throughout these years. Such praise can only add to the list of accomplishments for Zografos. And with one Dreamstate performance underneath his belt, I’m sure the future is only bright.